Tag: bowl projection

Wisconsin projected to face an SEC power in a New Year’s Day bowl game

Wisconsin projected to face an SEC power in a New Year’s Day bowl game

The Athletic’s college football bowl projections finally reached completion after the Big Ten and ACC Championships concluded last night. The service predicts No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Florida State in the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal, and No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl CFP Semifinal.

We aren’t here to litigate whether Texas, Alabama or Florida State should be left out of the playoff. We’re here to pass along that The Athletic has Wisconsin facing SEC power LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl, formerly known as the Outback Bowl, in Tampa, Florida on January 1, 2024.

No, Wisconsin is not playing in a New Year’s Six game. But it could be in action during that day — arguably the best day on the college football calendar.

This would be a fun matchup for Badgers fans. It would be a rematch with QB Jayden Daniels, the former Arizona State quarterback from when the Badgers played the Sun Devils in the Las Vegas Bowl. It would also see the team face one of the best offenses in the country, led by Daniels and star wide receivers Malik Nabers and Kyren Lacy.

On the positive side for the Badgers, LSU’s defense can be scored on quite easily.

Wisconsin getting to 7-5 on the season was a wonderful sight after a mostly rough season. A win against a traditional powerhouse like LSU can make a final 8-5 record feel much more palatable.

USA TODAY’s Erick Smith has a bowl projection (and opponent) for Rutgers football

Rutgers football has a bowl projection from USA TODAY Sports.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — It isn’t quite a lock for Rutgers football, but it sure seems like the program is as close to a sure thing to end up in the Pinstripe Bowl.

USA TODAY’s Erick Smith has projected, for a third straight week now, a match-up between Rutgers and Georgia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl. The bowl game takes place at Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York) and features conference tie-ins with the Big Ten and the ACC.

Rutgers is bowl-eligible for the first time since their first season in the Big Ten in 2014. They are 6-5 (3-5 Big Ten) and looking for a program-record fourth win in the Big Ten.

Georgia Tech has had some ups and downs this season (6-5, 5-3 ACC) but they do have two wins this season over ranked opponents.

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If this projection holds steady and comes to fruition, it would be the third time in program history that Rutgers will play in the Pinstripe Bowl. Their first appearance came in 2011 in a win over Iowa State.

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It was the last game of head coach Greg Schiano’s first stint with Rutgers. He would leave after that game to become head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

Wisconsin confronts a familiar face in USAToday’s latest bowl projections

Wisconsin confronts a familiar face in USAToday’s latest bowl projections

The 2023 Wisconsin Badgers clinched bowl eligibility for the 22nd consecutive season with Saturday’s overtime win over Nebraska.

A disappointing and injury-plagued season has the chance to finish on a positive note as we move into 2024. That positivity, of course, would only be present if the Badgers were to defeat Minnesota on Saturday and reclaim the Axe.

Regardless, Wisconsin’s bowl game will not be one of the highest-anticipated. USAToday released its latest bowl projections this morning and had that contest come in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl (again) against a familiar face in this state: Kansas and head coach Lance Leipold.

Leipold’s Jayhawks sit at 7-4 after a hot 7-2 start. The program’s trajectory under his watch is remarkable…a 2-10 2021 season, a 6-7 record (despite a 5-0 start) in 2022 and now this. Remember, Kansas is not traditionally a winning football program.

This would be a fun matchup as we watch the Jayhawks’ creative and high-powered offense meet a solid Badger defense. And we get the storyline of UW-Whitewater legend Lance Leipold coaching against that state’s only power program.

USA TODAY is making a Rutgers football bowl projection (for a third straight week)

USA TODAY is making a bowl projection for Rutgers football.

The bowl destination remains the same for Rutgers football, but the opponent has changed in the most recent projections from USA TODAY.

In his weekly update to his bowl projections, USA TODAY’s Erick Smith has Rutgers locked in for a third straight week in heading to the Pinstripe Bowl. In the previous two projections, he had Rutgers playing Wake Forest in the game but he has updated that outlook this week.

Rutgers remains, but now they face Georgia Tech.

Rutgers (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) is coming off a tough 24-13 weekend loss at Wisconsin. After an upset win at Miami over the weekend, things certainly are looking up for Georgia Tech (3-3, 2-1 ACC).

Three weeks ago, Georgia Tech beat Wake Forest, the team Rutgers was projected to play in the Pinstripe Bowl. Wake Forest, coincidentally, was the team that Rutgers faced in the 2021 Gator Bowl.

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That year, Rutgers was a last-minute replacement when Texas A&M had to pull out of the game.

In terms of bowl eligibility, Rutgers needs two more wins to be bowl eligible. They have not accomplished that since 2014, their first season in the Big Ten.

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The Pinstripe Bowl is held annually at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Rutgers beat Iowa State in the 2011 game in what was the final game of head coach Greg Schiano’s first tenure with the program.

Wisconsin faces an up-and-coming SEC power in latest bowl projection

Brett McMurphy predicts a rematch against a familiar quarterback:

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy has been consistent with his outlook for the Wisconsin Badgers in year one under new head coach Luke Fickell.

No, he doesn’t predict a College Football Playoff appearance. His Week 0 bowl projections continue to see the Badgers face off against up-and-coming SEC power Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl.

The Volunteers have had their glory days in the past, most notably with Payton Manning in the late 1990s. The program faced a rough stretch from 2008-2021, failing to win double-digit games in every year during that stretch. But a 11-2 2022 season under offensive mind Josh Heupel has Tennessee fans excited about the future of the program in the new era of college football.

This matchup would be fun for a lot of reasons. First, Tennessee’s fast-paced spread offense would be a fun test for a Wisconsin defense that should be the strength of the team yet again. Second, and more notably, the Volunteers look set to be led by Joe Milton at quarterback. Yes, the same Joe Milton that started for Michigan in 2020 and threw one of the more head-scratching interceptions I’ve ever seen.

Wisconsin opens its season and quest for the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff on September 3 against the Buffalo Bulls.

Latest bowl projection pits Auburn against former coach

If this prediction comes true, this will be one of the most interesting bowl matchups of the season.

College football experts from across the country all seem to agree that Auburn will be an improved team next season following the hire of [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag].

The 2023 season has yet to unfold, but many outlets are beginning to submit their picks for postseason bowl games. Jerry Palm of CBS Sports is one of the latest writers to do just that and believes that Auburn will be one of 12 SEC teams to earn a postseason bid.

Where will Auburn end up this postseason? Palm predicts that the Tigers will end their season in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl facing none other than the North Carolina Tar Heels.

North Carolina is expected to have a high-profile offense this season, but the hypothetical storyline here is that Auburn would face off with former head coach Gene Chizik, who serves as the Tar Heels’ defensive coordinator.

Which SEC teams will join Auburn in bowl season? Here’s a look at where Jerry Palm of CBS Sports believes each team will end their season in a bowl game.

Athlon Sports predicts a New Year’s Six Bowl for the 2023 Wisconsin Badgers

This would be a rematch with a familiar quarterback…

Athlon Sports released its 2023 Bowl Projections for the Big Ten Conference yesterday. The outlet, like many that have gone through this exercise, sees a successful season ahead for the Wisconsin Badgers.

The projection: a Citrus Bowl appearance against SEC power Tennessee.

While the 2022 campaign was rife with turnover and turmoil within the Wisconsin program, it did qualify for a bowl game for the 21st consecutive season. Today’s college football landscape puts emphasis on College Football Playoff appearances and national title contention. But still making a bowl game in the program’s worst season in recent memory is nothing to sneeze at.

The potential matchup with Tennesse would be fascinating for several reasons. The Volunteers are coming off an 11-2 season and Orange Bowl appearance. Josh Heupel’s offense seems to be taking the sport by storm, though after losing QB Hendon Hooker to the NFL the program now turns to former Michigan QB Joe Milton.

Yes, that Joe Milton. The one that threw arguably the worst pass I’ve ever seen at the college level.

A New Year’s Six appearance would be a success in Luke Fickell’s first year as head coach. That signals a 10+ win season, a Big Ten West title, an appearance in Indianapolis and a possible Big Ten Championship. Take away a Playoff birth, there isn’t much more to accomplish in an inaugural season.

Wisconsin kicks its season off at home against Buffalo on September 2.

Wisconsin faces an SEC power in 247Sports’ latest bowl projections

Wisconsin would get a second shot at former Michigan quarterback Joe Milton (remember him?)

Wisconsin football is faced with a golden opportunity for a terrific season in 2023. The program still has one more year to benefit from the existence of the Big Ten West and its crossover schedule is easy aside from the Ohio State game.

A College Playoff birth is in the realm of possibility for Head Coach Luke Fickell in his first season. All it will likely take is a 2017 or 2019-type run to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship and the program actually defeating Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State in that spot.

At the least, this team should finish as Big Ten West champions and play for the conference title.

Brad Crawford of 247Sports recently unveiled his latest bowl projections and sees Wisconsin in a similar light. He has the program playing in the Citrus Bowl against SEC power Tennessee.

That matchup would be fascinating for many reasons. First, it’s Josh Heupel’s air-it-out offense against what should be a staunch Wisconsin defense. Second, Tennessee’s quarterback is someone Wisconsin is familiar with from the 2020 season: former Michigan Wolverine Joe Milton.

Badger fans may remember the interception he threw to Leo Chenal that game. It remains one of the most head-scratching picks I’ve ever seen.

Tennessee projects to be quite good again this year even with roster turnover on offense. A Citrus Bowl matchup between these two teams would be a fun way to cap off the season.

College Football insider projects that the Tide miss out on the playoffs again in 2023

CFB insider predicts that Alabama will face off against Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl and miss out on the playoffs.

Alabama football had a relatively disappointing season in 2022 after dropping two games to SEC rivals LSU and Tennessee. For most schools, an 11-win season and a Sugar Bowl victory would be an incredible season, but that’s not the standard in Tuscaloosa.

While there are a lot of question marks looming over the Tide, such as the quarterback position and what the two new coordinators will look like, the doubt continues to grow. College Football insider for the Action Network, Brett McMurphy, projects that the Tide will miss out on the playoffs again in 2023 and face off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Cotton Bowl. Alabama last faced Cincinnati in the 2021 Cotton Bowl in a CFB semi-final matchup.

The 2023 season has a much more manageable schedule for the Tide than last season was as their most difficult games (LSU, Texas, Tennessee) will all be at home. The Tide will also clean things up this year after being one of the most undisciplined and penalized teams last year. I expect the Alabama defense to play at an elite level while also establishing a more prominent run game.

McMurphy predicts that the first semi-final game will be between Georgia and Washington in the Sugar Bowl and the other one will be Florida State vs. Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama Football as the 2023 offseason progresses.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

ESPN analyst: Arkansas vs Bielema, Illinois very likely

Arkansas vs Bret Bielema and Illinois would be a wild bowl game. It’s possible, too.

Doomsaying fans of the Arkansas football program are proclaiming the Hogs have lost. Arkansas won’t make a bowl game.

The most realistic fans, however, see that the Razorbacks’ most likely record at the end of the regular season is 6-6. Such a record would put Arkansas right in position for a second consecutive bowl game for the first time since Bret Bielema was coach.

Oh, and speaking of Bielema…

ESPN college football analyst Kyle Bonagura thinks the two old flames might rekindle. Bonagura has Arkansas and Illinois projected to meet in the Music City Bowl on December 31.

It would be the first meeting between the two since Bielema was let go as coach following a season-ending loss to Missouri in 2017. He has since become head coach at Illinois and has the Fighting Illini at 7-3 with two games remaining.

Arkansas needs a win against either Ole Miss on Saturday or at Missouri the day after Thanksgiving to clinch bowl eligibility. Kickoff from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium against the Rebels is at 6:30 p.m.

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